Cultivator



(No Model.)

T. GRISSINGTRA CULTIVATOR. y NO. 247,756. Patented Oct. 4,1881.

Nv Plinius. Phowmlmgmplwr. wsmnumn. D. C.

`f NITED STATES PATENT tinten.o

THEODORE GRISSINGER, OF MECHANICSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

CULTIVATO R.

SPECLFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 247,756, dated October 4, 1881.

Application filed June 18, 1881. (No model.) Y

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEoDoRE GRrssrNGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mechanicsburg, in the county of Cumberland and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gultivators; and I do hereby declare the following` to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, suoli as will enable others skilled in the art t0 which itappertains to make and use the same, reference beiughad to the accom panyin g drawings,and to letters ortiguresofreierencemarked thereon,whieh form apart of this specication.

The present invention relates to that class of attaching devices for cultivator teeth or shovels in which provision is made for permitting the shovel to swing backward when it encounters` an obstruction and cause it to return to its working position after the passage beyond said obstruction. i

The object ofthe invention is to insure a firm and rigid connection between the cultivator beam or stock and the pivoted foot or shovel sleeve, whereby the cultivator shovel or tooth will perform its work in an effective and satisfactory manner, and is not liable to yield or move when working in hard ground or when clods are encountered.

To this end the invention consists inthe construction and combination ot' parts which will is pivoted thereto by a pivot-pin, o, passingl through the shovel-foot at or about the center thereof. A shovel or tooth of any approved form or size is secured to the foot or sleeve by means of a bolt and nut, b, or other'suitable v fastening medium.

An arm, C, consisting of two plates extending from the rear of the shovel foot or carrier at each side thereof, and forming a rigid part of said foot, is provided with several holes, d,

which are arranged in the are of a circle or i n a curved line, as is shown in Fig. 1.

A pair of parallel plates, D, arranged on either side of the shovel-beam or standardfand a link or plate, E, fitted between said parallt plates, and connected with the arm C of the shovel-carrier, constitute a toggle-lever which is free to move in an outward direction from the standard or beam when the shovel foot or carrier is turned on its pivot-pin by theactlon of a stone or other obstruction. The plates D are pivoted to the standard by a pin,j`, passing through the latter and the upper ends ot' the former, and a pin,g, fitted through said plates at or near their lower ends, serves to effect a pivotal connect-ion of the link or plate E with the other plates or members, D, ofthe togglelever. A vertical rod or stem, F, pivoted between the plates D, at the rear of the same,

extends in an upward direction, and passes through a guide bracket or arm, G, ot' the shovel-bea m. Said rod F is encircled by a spiral or india-rubber spring, H, which is retained or held between a screw nut or collar, I, on the rod and the guide-bracket on the beam. A portion of the rod F is screw-th readed, and the screw-n utI,which is employed for adjusting the tension of the spring, is adjustable on said screw-threaded portion, and is prevented from passing below the same by asuitable projection or enlargement on the rod.

A set-screw, J, passing through the link or plate E, above the point of connection thereof with the plates D, bears against the rear edge of the beam or standard, and is employed for adjusting the toggle-lever, so as to cause it to conform to the position or angle of the shovel foot or carrier.

t will be manifest that the spring carried by the guide stem or rod exerts a downward pressure, which is transmitted to the togglelever, causing the latter to maintain the straightened position shown in Fig. l. The toggle-lever being directly connected with the shovel foot or carrier, it necessarily follows that the latter is held in a firm and rigid position, so as to cause the shovel or other culti vating or plowing implement to pass through all kinds of ground in a perfect and satifactory manner.

It frequent-ly happens that plows or shovels IOC connected with their standards by wooden break-pins yield or are thrown out of a working position by clods or hard ground, andthe same result also takes place with'many of the cultivator-teeth h eretotore devised which depend upon a spring and connecting devices for holding the same in a Working position. My invention obviates the defects ot devices ofthe latter description by locating the pressure-exerting devices at or near the shovel, or at the place where it is needed the most.

It will be obvious that the shovel can only swing backward when an obstruction isbrougbt in its path that is sufficient to overcome the pressure of the spring and the devices connected with thc shovel foot or sleeve. For example, a stone or stump or other hard object liable to injure the shovel will cause the latter to pass out of a working position, but clods or f other objects which can be penetrated b v the shovel will not effect the result mentioned.

The shovel-foot can be set at various angles by shifting the pivot-pin ot'the con necting-link or plate E into either ofthe holes in the arm ofthe shovel-foot. By placing said holes in the arc of a circle, as shown, it obviates the necessity ot'changing the toggle lever, as the three pivotal points are alwaysin the saine line.

The set-screw is chietlyintendcd to prevent the toggle-lever (through Wear or other cause) from getting into a deaddockj7 which result would take place if the three pivotal points Were located in astraight line.

It will be apparent that the pin passing through the link E and plates D is a little above the line of the pinf, which connects said plates with the standard and the pin d of the arm C. Hence it will be necessary to move the set-screw whenever the parts are adjusted, so as to prevent the same from getting into a Straight position and forming a dead-lock, and preventing the shovel from yielding when it strikes an obstruction. y placing the spring 0r pressure devices in rear of the beam the front ofthe same is entirely clear, which is a great advantage in cultivating grassy or inanured land.

I disclaim the broad idea of combining a spring-pressed toggle-lever with a pivoted cultivator-standard, said toggle-lever being arranged horizontally on the top of the cultivater-beam.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The'combination ot' a vertical toggle-lever, having a suitablev spring connected therewith, with a pivoted shovel shoe or support and the upright portion ot' a curved cultivator-heam, all constructed and arranged substantially as herein set forth.

2. The combination ot' a vertically-arranged toggle-lever and a vertical guidestem or rod, having encircling spring, with a curved cultivater-beam, having the upper end ofthe toggle-lever pivoted to its upright portion, and a shovel shoe or support connected with the lower end ot' said toggle-lever, as and for the pur. pose specitied. f

In testimony whereot' I afiix my signature in presence of t\vo Witnesses.

TIIEODORE GRISSINGER.

lVitnesses:

W. H. HENCH, H. A. LoNcsDoRr. 

